Glossary

Moh’s scale

A relative integer-scale used to compare the resistance different materials have to being scratched. It is made up of 10 minerals ranging in softness from talc (softest) to diamond (hardest). In simple terms the Moh’s scale judges hardness of different minerals against one another. To place a mineral on the Moh’s scale, judge whether it can be scratched by each mineral in the scale, or whether it scratches that mineral.